After a year and a half at my school, they've finally killed my will to teach

[flasyb]

It's because we're not viewed as real teachers. People who are not real teachers don't get textbooks. Teachers without textbooks [in the students eyes] are not real teachers. It's a self fulfilling prophecy.

I think you should have gone to the assembly anyway and sat with the other teachers. Easy to say from where I'm sitting now but all of these things just pile up to create a culture of disrespect toward the foreign teacher.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

It's because we're not viewed as real teachers. People who are not real teachers don't get textbooks. Teachers without textbooks [in the students eyes] are not real teachers. It's a self fulfilling prophecy.

I think you should have gone to the assembly anyway and sat with the other teachers. Easy to say from where I'm sitting now but all of these things just pile up to create a culture of disrespect toward the foreign teacher.

My students like and respect me, and treat me much better than they do the Korean teachers. The reason they don't want me to have a textbook is because they think I'm capable of creating all my lessons from scratch for classes with no multimedia.

It's just the management that seems to not count me among actual staff.

Like I said, my students are wonderful and are all very polite and consider me very much a real teacher, so there's no disrespect coming from them.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

Oh. Oh my god. Oh. My. God.

If a single one of my co-teachers condescendingly tells me how easy my job is one more time, I'm going to literally go insane. The co-teachers that do not come to class 80% of the time, and when they do, have never, once, said a single word in class. The co-teachers that do not know what PowerPoint is. The co-teachers that literally go to all of their own classes 10 minutes late, every day.

And yet, every opportunity they get, they say, 'Oh, your job must be so easy. Just rest. Us Korean teachers have much work to do.'

Right. I'm just resting when I'm preparing for my 24 classes per week, 75% of which have no access to a TV or computer, and 100% of which I am not allowed to use a textbook for. And you're working so hard when I've come to your office immediately following one of the classes you were supposed to teach with me, only to find you passed out in your chair snoring.

I just... I just don't even know. These teachers at my school (not all Korean teachers, obviously) are absolutely delusional. And old. And lazy. And usually hungover.

I can't wait to change schools.

[fishead]

 They'll crack out a bunch of state of the art new equiptment when your replacement arrives. Who will look like Jesseca Ghomes and make a much lower salary than you. In six months she'll be in the same boat as you as the kids would have sabataghed all the equiptment so they don't have to watch yet another Thanksgiving Halloween powerpoint

[#basedcowboyshirt]

There won't be a replacement for me - I'm at a SMOE high school.

If there was a replacement, I'd feel so, so sorry for them. There is literally no way a new teacher could do what I've been doing at this school.

[Andyroo]

There won't be a replacement for me - I'm at a SMOE high school.

If there was a replacement, I'd feel so, so sorry for them. There is literally no way a new teacher could do what I've been doing at this school.

Hahahaha

You know they will be complaining about your departure then and the extra work they all have to do.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

Funny in a way, I kind of get a perverse - yet natural - pleasure in seeing all these teachers that were so positive when they were newbs and whom disdained experienced posters like me who posted non 'rainbow and unicorns' experiences (but realisitc, non distorted every day workplace frustratons etc) about Korea, now finally out of the honeymoon phase and realising how things really are some of the time...

Of course, there will a be a new batch of newbs in country 2 months to shoot them down and say 'if you hate it here why do you stay, why are you so negative, this place is awesome, my coworkers give me rice cakes...'

The cycle of life.

[fishead]

There won't be a replacement for me - I'm at a SMOE high school.

If there was a replacement, I'd feel so, so sorry for them. There is literally no way a new teacher could do what I've been doing at this school.

Hahahaha

You know they will be complaining about your departure then and the extra work they all have to do.

At that point the robot will arrive. It will look like something out of a 1970's Dr. Who. The KET's will leave the robots with the students alone to teach conversation. one smart ass student will find ways to speed up the robots talk and make it sound really funny. It will quickly end up out of order and gathering dust in the room where the ajoshi's night watch man sleeps.

[peasgoodnonsuch]

I am so so sorry for you. I don't think I would have handled your situation with half the aplomb it seems you have.

I can only offer one, somewhat passive aggressive attempt at getting your co-teachers to show up to class and participate. I would ask your students if any of them are unhappy about the situation. If they are, ask them to tell their parents and ask their parents to complain to the vice principal and principal. I have a co-teacher who used to never show up in class (and she still comes late, drifts in and out and only helps when I directly ask her) BUT she does come to class now. This is because the vp and principal found out what she was doing and gave her a really big talking to. Ever since she's been a lot better. If the parents complain then usually something will change.

I also suggest brushing up on your classroom Korean. The kids will really appreciate it if you can throw out the occasional translation of a word or phrase.

I know you're limited in making copies, but how about printing? You can always scan the pages from your textbook into your computer and print them from your laptop. Call me the Master of Loopholes!

Also, when they offer snide, abusive comments I don't see anything wrong with simply and calmly stating the truth. "Oh yes, I know how you feel. You know, I actually spend a lot of time preparing my lessons, what with the lack of regular resources. You know, us poor foreign teachers, no one thinks our classes count even though we put in so much effort. I can totally sympathize with you..." 

You don't need to be rude back to state the truth, but why suffer false accusations and insults?

[woman-king]

I just hope you're out of there soon, Cowboyshirt.  Your positive and fair-minded attitude towards your school and Korea in general is striking--it's too easy to get soured on the whole experience here pretty quickly if you're in such an unpleasant work environment.   

There are better work environments out there in Korea, trust me!  Since you're living here you're in the position to be able to speak to prospective schools' current NETs and get a feel for the vibe at each place before making a decision.  Hopefully you find a place that deserves your good energy.  Good luck!  :)

[#basedcowboyshirt]

I can only offer one, somewhat passive aggressive attempt at getting your co-teachers to show up to class and participate. I would ask your students if any of them are unhappy about the situation. If they are, ask them to tell their parents and ask their parents to complain to the vice principal and principal. I have a co-teacher who used to never show up in class (and she still comes late, drifts in and out and only helps when I directly ask her) BUT she does come to class now. This is because the vp and principal found out what she was doing and gave her a really big talking to. Ever since she's been a lot better. If the parents complain then usually something will change.

I also suggest brushing up on your classroom Korean. The kids will really appreciate it if you can throw out the occasional translation of a word or phrase.

I know you're limited in making copies, but how about printing? You can always scan the pages from your textbook into your computer and print them from your laptop. Call me the Master of Loopholes!

Also, when they offer snide, abusive comments I don't see anything wrong with simply and calmly stating the truth. "Oh yes, I know how you feel. You know, I actually spend a lot of time preparing my lessons, what with the lack of regular resources. You know, us poor foreign teachers, no one thinks our classes count even though we put in so much effort. I can totally sympathize with you..."

You don't need to be rude back to state the truth, but why suffer false accusations and insults?

I appreciate your sympathy :)

I've told the kids to mention it to their parents, and I always make a point of asking the students where the Korean teacher is, making it very clear that I didn't okay their skipping class. So far, nothing's happened, though. They're all tenured teachers, so they really don't care, and the school doesn't care about actual classroom learning, either, for the most part. Its main focus is self-directed afterschool study.

The printing loophole doesn't work :( The head IT guy is right beside the only printer I have access to, and he gets super pissed if I print out more than a few pages. It's okay - I've gone a year and a half without printouts. I can do 4 more months. Hilariously, though - while I'm not a senior enough teacher to make printouts, having only been here for about 20 months, some Korean teachers that have been at the school for under 6 months are allowed to make printouts. Gosh.

Also, my co-teachers' English isn't good enough to pick up on passive aggressive insults. They literally don't get it. I've tried.


Also, re: the classroom Korean - I've learned so much Korean vocabulary by learning stuff just to explain it to my students. Then my VP told me off saying that I should only speak in English because they advertise their school as providing '100% English classes with American teacher' (I'm Canadian). So, I still do it anyways, but yeah. It was frowned upon.

Anyawys. Whine whine whine.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

I just hope you're out of there soon, Cowboyshirt.  Your positive and fair-minded attitude towards your school and Korea in general is striking--it's too easy to get soured on the whole experience here pretty quickly if you're in such an unpleasant work environment.   

There are better work environments out there in Korea, trust me!  Since you're living here you're in the position to be able to speak to prospective schools' current NETs and get a feel for the vibe at each place before making a decision.  Hopefully you find a place that deserves your good energy.  Good luck!  :)

Thanks, #basedwoman-king. I'm kind of scared. I'm going to renew with SMOE EPIK, which means I'll be randomly assigned to a random elementary school. Fingers crossed I don't end up in Nowon or Banghwa or something. Also fingers crossed that whatever school it is is nicer than this. So many people grumble that their schools are really awful, I hope I don't flop from the frying pan into the fire.

[KLM]

I just hope you're out of there soon, Cowboyshirt.  Your positive and fair-minded attitude towards your school and Korea in general is striking--it's too easy to get soured on the whole experience here pretty quickly if you're in such an unpleasant work environment.   

There are better work environments out there in Korea, trust me!  Since you're living here you're in the position to be able to speak to prospective schools' current NETs and get a feel for the vibe at each place before making a decision.  Hopefully you find a place that deserves your good energy.  Good luck!  :)

Thanks, #basedwoman-king. I'm kind of scared. I'm going to renew with SMOE EPIK, which means I'll be randomly assigned to a random elementary school. Fingers crossed I don't end up in Nowon or Banghwa or something. Also fingers crossed that whatever school it is is nicer than this. So many people grumble that their schools are really awful, I hope I don't flop from the frying pan into the fire.

Cowboyshirt, I don't know if this is something you'd be willing to do, or if it's too late to get the ball rolling on it, but if you're worried about your next assignment, you might mention your current situation to your MOE.

I won't get into all the details of my past situation, but I worked at a school that was very similar to yours, and I was also in very similar situations with 아저씨 co-teachers who never came to class and couldn't speak English anyway. I documented everything and told my MOE about it, and when they witnessed the situation for themselves, they were totally amenable to ensuring that I did not wind up in a similar school during my subsequent contract.

It's not in the MOE's interest to have a teacher burn out due to multiple postings in odious schools.

[deanitsin]

I just hope you're out of there soon, Cowboyshirt.  Your positive and fair-minded attitude towards your school and Korea in general is striking--it's too easy to get soured on the whole experience here pretty quickly if you're in such an unpleasant work environment.   

There are better work environments out there in Korea, trust me!  Since you're living here you're in the position to be able to speak to prospective schools' current NETs and get a feel for the vibe at each place before making a decision.  Hopefully you find a place that deserves your good energy.  Good luck!  :)

Thanks, #basedwoman-king. I'm kind of scared. I'm going to renew with SMOE EPIK, which means I'll be randomly assigned to a random elementary school. Fingers crossed I don't end up in Nowon or Banghwa or something. Also fingers crossed that whatever school it is is nicer than this. So many people grumble that their schools are really awful, I hope I don't flop from the frying pan into the fire.

I don't think I've ever heard a PS story much worse than yours. I've heard of a lot of people who thought their PS situation was a lot worse than yours, but not of any situations that actually were. I have a feeling pretty much anywhere you end up is going to be better than this. A lot of the situations that get really bad get that way because new teachers aren't always sure how to properly navigate Korean work places and handle coworkers (especially higher-ups) in an effective manner. You? If you've made it through this situation without throwing any massive temper tantrums in the teachers' office or telling everyone at your school to sit on it and spin, then I think you'll be just fine.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

Not related to me, but my students for a change -

You know how it's been really warm lately? You might even say the weather has been hot. Because it has.

Well, guess whose students are still wearing long sleeve shirts and sweatervests? Why? Because the new iron-on emblems for the 1st graders' summer uniforms haven't arrived, and the management doesn't want mismatched uniforms or students not clearly broadcasting which school they're from.

So every student has to continue to wear their winter uniform.

Dat premium highschool life, yo.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

[Mountain Crocodile]

Funny in a way, I kind of get a perverse - yet natural - pleasure in seeing all these teachers that were so positive when they were newbs and whom disdained experienced posters like me who posted non 'rainbow and unicorns' experiences (but realisitc, non distorted every day workplace frustratons etc) about Korea, now finally out of the honeymoon phase and realising how things really are some of the time...

Of course, there will a be a new batch of newbs in country 2 months to shoot them down and say 'if you hate it here why do you stay, why are you so negative, this place is awesome, my coworkers give me rice cakes...'

The cycle of life.

Yep...very cyclical the types of postings.

I'm seeing more and more online MA threads starting now when people realize they want to leave.  It's that time of year again.

In 2 months, you'll be reading about how people didn't get renewed and their bitter stories.

Those are always interesting to read.

MC

[Mountain Crocodile]

I just hope you're out of there soon, Cowboyshirt.  Your positive and fair-minded attitude towards your school and Korea in general is striking--it's too easy to get soured on the whole experience here pretty quickly if you're in such an unpleasant work environment.   

There are better work environments out there in Korea, trust me!  Since you're living here you're in the position to be able to speak to prospective schools' current NETs and get a feel for the vibe at each place before making a decision.  Hopefully you find a place that deserves your good energy.  Good luck!  :)

Thanks, #basedwoman-king. I'm kind of scared. I'm going to renew with SMOE EPIK, which means I'll be randomly assigned to a random elementary school. Fingers crossed I don't end up in Nowon or Banghwa or something. Also fingers crossed that whatever school it is is nicer than this. So many people grumble that their schools are really awful, I hope I don't flop from the frying pan into the fire.

Bring sauce with you.

MC

[Jrong]

There won't be a replacement for me - I'm at a SMOE high school.

If there was a replacement, I'd feel so, so sorry for them. There is literally no way a new teacher could do what I've been doing at this school.

Hahahaha

You know they will be complaining about your departure then and the extra work they all have to do.

At that point the robot will arrive. It will look like something out of a 1970's Dr. Who. The KET's will leave the robots with the students alone to teach conversation. one smart ass student will find ways to speed up the robots talk and make it sound really funny. It will quickly end up out of order and gathering dust in the room where the ajoshi's night watch man sleeps.

Too many good postings on this one but fishead was hilarious.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

This week, on The Cowboyshirt Show:

Contract KT for one of my afterschool classes gets fired because students complain that she spoke too much English in class and blamed their low attendance on her. Her English was flawless and she was an incredibly good teacher.

Boss tells me I 'should' come to school at 7 (work starts at 8 ) to 'eat the earlybird breakfast with students.'

Also, it's now the 5th consecutive week since 3 of my coteachers have made an appearance at any classes.